Gardner - X-Ray reveals broken back

Anthony Gardner will miss the remainder of the season with the back injury he sustained in last week's FA Cup defeat at Arsenal. Garnder had only just returned to action after missing the start of the season due to a thigh injury.

A Hull City statement reads

'Gardner ruled out

Anthony Gardner will miss the remainder of the season after x-rays revealed four fractured vertebrae in the base of his spine'

This is another blow for the Tigers as Gardner joins Jimmy Bullard and George Boateng as established Premiership players who are currently unable to join in the fight against relegation.

Surely it will again bring to the fore the argument about Brown's transfer policy as three of his most expensive signings are out with long term injuries. Boateng is expected to return to action shortly, but Gardner and Bullard were signed with pre-existing injuries. Although Gardner's injury is a new injury, questions over his physical build have always been asked as he has throughout his career suffered from regular injuries.

Manager Phil Brown said to www.hullcityafc.co.uk:

"It's a big blow. Anthony has been very unlucky and we sympathise with how unlucky he has been. It's been a stop-start season for him to say the least.

"People have questioned whether he can physically handle it at this level. We certainly think he can.

"We brought him in to do a job and he has Premier League experience. He had formed a reasonable partnership with Michael Turner in a short space of time.

"It's an unusual injury for a footballer. With rest and recuperation, he'll be back for pre-season training."

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